Call of Duty
News, coverage and analysis tracking Call of Duty across the outlets.
Something for the Weekend – 11/07/26This week's news includes Microsoft confirming significant layoffs affecting multiple studios, Palworld's 1.0 launch with a large patch, and matchmaking issues for Black Ops players on PlayStation 4 and 5. God of War Laufey is slated for a 2027 release, and a petition to save physical games has garnered over 285,000 signatures.- Xbox After The Layoffs: Studios Left And What They’re MakingXbox has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and the divestment of five studios, as it aims to increase profitability and focus on major intellectual properties. This shake-up impacts numerous development teams and projects across Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, with a renewed focus on core franchises and a shift in business strategies like the exclusion of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass day-one launches.
Xbox needs to make a choice, says former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden: be a publisher or a platform, but you can't be bothFormer PlayStation leader Shawn Layden argues that Xbox must choose between being a major game publisher or a platform holder, stating it cannot effectively be both. He highlights the need for exclusive content to support a platform, contrasting it with the multiplatform approach required for a top publisher, a dilemma exacerbated by recent Xbox layoffs and strategic shifts.
Analysts say that 'digital is just too lucrative' for Sony and that PlayStation 'will not reverse' its decision to end physical disc production even in the face of fans cancelling PS Plus subscriptionsAnalysts believe Sony will not reverse its decision to end physical disc production by 2028, despite fan backlash and subscription cancellations. Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games stated that digital sales are significantly more lucrative for Sony, making the potential loss of 1% of PlayStation Plus subscribers insufficient to alter the company's strategy. The profit margins for digital sales, especially for first-party titles where Sony retains 100% of the revenue, far outweigh those of physical copies.
How Do Gamer Creators Spread the Word About Their Platforms?Modern casino games are increasingly adopting features from video games, such as progression systems, skill-based elements, immersive visuals, and social features, to appeal to a generation of players accustomed to interactive entertainment. This trend, known as gamification, transforms the entire online casino platform into an engaging experience, blurring the lines between traditional gambling and mainstream gaming.
Paysafecard at Online Casinos in IrelandModern casino games are increasingly adopting features from video games to appeal to a new generation of players. This includes elements like progression systems, skill-based gameplay, immersive visuals, and social features, transforming the casino experience into a more interactive and engaging form of entertainment.
id Tech is Still Part of Xbox’s Future Despite Layoffs – RumorDespite recent layoffs at id Software, the id Tech game engine remains a part of Xbox's future plans, according to a report. Many employees working on the engine's development were affected by the cuts. The engine is expected to be used in future projects at id Software and by MachineGames for their Wolfenstein titles.
Xbox Wants To Entertain 1 Billion People Every Day. It Can’t Even Explain HowXbox CEO Asha Sharma outlined a goal for the company to entertain over one billion people daily, a target that seems ambitious given recent layoffs and the current reach of Xbox services. While mobile games like Candy Crush and Minecraft, along with other Microsoft titles, contribute to daily active users, they fall significantly short of the one billion mark. The strategy for achieving this goal, particularly through mobile gaming and potentially third-party titles, remains unclear.
Xbox Game Pass subscription numbers are reportedly well below where Microsoft wants them to beXbox Game Pass subscriber numbers have reportedly fallen to 30 million, significantly below Microsoft's target of 77 million by 2026. This decline follows a substantial price increase for Game Pass Ultimate and a change in strategy regarding day-one releases for Call of Duty titles. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cited Game Pass growth troubles as a reason for recent job cuts within the Xbox division.
The Gaming Industry Is Eating Itself AliveXbox is undergoing a massive restructuring, including 3,200 layoffs, impacting numerous studios and divisions like Activision, Bethesda, and Blizzard. While some studios regain independence and first-party projects remain safe for now, the article criticizes Xbox's overall strategy, citing Game Pass's performance and declining hardware revenue. The piece also touches on PlayStation's similar issues with digital ownership and preservation, painting a bleak picture for the future of gaming costs and ownership.
The Xbox reset is not going to work if it’s just a retreat to the pastMicrosoft's Xbox division continues to face significant challenges, marked by recurring mass layoffs and declining results. Despite the high volume of job cuts and studio closures, the company's future strategy remains unclear, with speculation that new leadership may be attempting to revert to past successes rather than innovate. The article questions the sustainability of this approach, especially concerning hardware sales and the exclusivity of major franchises like The Elder Scrolls 6.- The $69 Billion Hangover: Every Xbox Layoff Since The Activision Blizzard MergerMicrosoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion has been followed by significant layoffs and studio closures within its Xbox division. These cuts, described by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma as a "reset" due to an unhealthy business, have impacted thousands of employees and led to the cancellation of several game projects across various studios since January 2024.
- New Xbox CEO Admits Game Pass Bet Has Not Worked OutXbox CEO Asha Sharma announced a strategic reset for the Xbox business, acknowledging that major bets like Xbox Game Pass have not grown at the expected pace. The plan includes mass layoffs and selling off studios, as the company shifts focus to higher priority projects. Sharma admitted the core business has weakened, leading to this significant shakeup.
Xbox cutting 3,200 jobs and parting ways with Double Fine, Compulsion, Ninja Theory, and Undead LabsMicrosoft has initiated a significant restructure of its Xbox division, eliminating 3,200 jobs and parting ways with four studios: Double Fine, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated the cuts are necessary due to underperforming bets on Xbox Game Pass and multiplatform releases, as well as a severe hardware crisis impacting component prices. The company aims to streamline operations, reduce management layers, and foster a more efficient development environment.
7 Game Mechanics That Somehow Escaped Video Games and Took Over the InternetModern casino games are increasingly incorporating mechanics from video games, such as progression systems, skill-based elements, and social features, to appeal to a generation accustomed to interactive entertainment. This trend is driven by players' expectations for engaging experiences, leading to the gamification of entire online casino platforms. The lines between video games and online gambling are blurring as developers borrow successful elements to enhance player engagement and retention.
Why Modern Players Expect Casino Games to Borrow Features From Video GameModern casino games are increasingly incorporating features from video games, such as progression systems, skill-based elements, and immersive visuals, to appeal to a new generation of players. This trend, known as gamification, aims to enhance player engagement by making casino experiences more interactive and rewarding, blurring the lines between traditional gambling and video entertainment.
War Fantasy is “the anti–Call of Duty” and delivers a kick to the groin of the games industry’s relentless gamification of conflict.War Fantasy, developed by a former Call of Duty developer, is described as an "anti Call of Duty" game that critiques the gamification of conflict. The game aims to expose how war is marketed to players and highlights the tragic cost of conflict, contrasting with typical war game narratives.
PS5 digital-only petition hits 100,000 as Sony allows some game discs after 2028Sony is phasing out the production of new game discs for its consoles, with publishers only allowed to press discs for already-released games after January 2028. Despite a petition reaching 100,000 signatures and comments from Hideo Kojima, the company appears committed to its digital-first strategy, likely due to the majority of players already purchasing games digitally. This move impacts the availability of physical media and raises concerns about game preservation and streaming.
What on earth is happening to the video games industry? - Reader's FeatureA reader expresses frustration with the current state of the video game industry, citing issues like mass layoffs, Sony's focus on live service games, and Microsoft's acquisition strategy. Concerns are raised about the move towards digital-only sales and the potential high cost of future consoles like the PlayStation 6. Despite these criticisms, the reader acknowledges the strength of the indie scene and the resurgence of companies like Capcom.
The hard truth about Sony killing PlayStation games on discThis article argues that the shift towards digital game sales on PlayStation, driven by consumer convenience and industry trends, is inevitable despite vocal opposition. It highlights that legal ownership of games is often a license rather than true ownership, and physical discs are becoming less reliable and representative of the final product.